How does light affect an image? Time of day. Time of year. Direction. Intensity. Source. Pollution. Weather conditions. Thinking about the quality of light. Taken from E’s mother’s apartment window4/4/09 in New York City looking North.

New York City Rooftops by Day 4-4-09New York City Rooftops Night 4-4-09

One of Pittsburgh’s Barber Shops near Children’s Hospital, across from Tram’s Vietnamese Restaurant where we ate Saigon Soup and Spring Rolls. Shot through the reflection on the front window, the barber pole position is deceptive.

Driving by at night I noticed this scene that looked like a movie set for another time period. Pittsburgh has so many Barber Shops and my friend Bill thought it would make a good photo project. Frank’s on Penn Ave is another one. I photographed a few of them and believe they need to be documented.

The South’s largest hat store-Meyer the Hatter. Every time I walked by I was drawn to it. The display of hats triggered memories of my grandfather, my father, all sporting hats. And women wore hats, too, a little net veil with velvet dots, a pillbox with combs, a wide brim. Just thinking about hats and who buys them, wears them now. Hat boxes with a twisted thick cord to carry, stored high on a closet shelf. Who remembers hat-wearing?http://www.meyerthehatter.com/meyer/

Sunday morning in New Orleans. Worth the short wait in a line for a seat at a table. One order is three warm beignets. Accompanied by Cafe au Lait. It is traditional. It is delicious. Everyone is ordering and eating them, piled on a tiny plate, covered with powdered sugar. You start your day in New Orleans honoring the necessary tourist ritual and are fortunate you are with a New Orleansean who knows where to park!

When I drive by this corner at Penn Ave I see Pittsburgh Children’s Hospital employees on their break. They sit all along this high stone curb. Read the sign behind. I thought about taking photos of them smoking but seemed too intrusive. Better to just see the location- unpeopled

You drive out of the tunnel, ten, nine, eight, seven, six, fivefourthreetwo, ONE– PITTSBURGH! The cityscape welcomes you. Dramatic entrance after the darkness. The day you get back it is blue sky! The bridge almost gold. Your camera’s right there on the passenger seat. This is what you see. rutheh.wordpress.com

My friend Dorothy baked bread last week. She sliced some, added her homegrown lettuce and Early Girl tomatoes from her garden. On top a piece of Muenster cheese. Into the toaster oven to “top brown” the cheese. Each part of the sandwich enhanced the other. But the key was the warm, freshly baked bread. I had to photograph the loaves. Delicious.